Retake control of your freedom

The hardest part of being your own boss is the freedom that comes with it. I see all the time with clients I work with who start out with rigidity, a hard schedule, and then the consistency falls off. Why? Because they are trying to replicate the structural demands of working on someone else’s schedule/time, maybe even replicating their workday from a corporate structure - but eventually, they start to resent it just like they did in the prior experience. 

Next, they try not scheduling anything and then have days where they feel lost, lacking direction, and unsure which project or aspect of their business to work on. 

This is where the aspect of discipline comes into play.

When you work for yourself, even if it’s currently a side business, you are in almost total control of this aspect. This means nobody is causing problems for you except you. Nobody is coming to bail you out except you. The only way to overcome this is through being disciplined. 

Now, hear me out. I am not saying you need a rigid schedule (unless you absolutely love one), but you do need a sense of commitment to yourself, your business, and your consumers. When things get busy, you need to stick to your tasks, not put them aside… you may, however, need to adjust them, but you need to stay true and disciplined to your commitment. 

When I started this company a year ago, this weekly newsletter was my initial project. I set out to write 1 letter per week. There were times when nobody would register, and I would feel defeated, thinking this project was a waste of time, but ultimately I stuck with it. Now, it’s a habit. What used to take me hours now takes me 20 minutes - and becomes multiple pieces of content. All because of my discipline and commitment to the task - completing it was non-negotiable. 

Freedom in entrepreneurship is what we all search for, but it’s also the paradoxical part of the experience that can leave us feeling overwhelmed with all of our potential ways to spend our time. I want you to embrace the concept of flexible freedom backed by discipline. I want you to commit to yourself that 2023 will be the year you don’t break your own promises. 

What will it take for you to accomplish the goals you’ve set out to complete? 

What will it take to honor your promises to yourself to help you live the life you want to live?

There will be times when you don’t feel like doing x,y,z tasks, but instead of dismissing it, reschedule it. Instead of forcing it, figure out where that task fits in your routine. The options are endless, but what you truly want lies on the uncomfortable side of staying disciplined. In 2023, win the battle vs. the distractions.